Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-06-17
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Master workman rowdcrly's ProCia-
nation,


old and middle-Ogcd are forgetting that
on the Fourll'of July, 1776, nation was
born aud government was iuauguratcd
which differed from the governments and
nations OF the earth, inusmuch as ii was
to be a nation aud government to be
composed Of The whole people, to he man
aged and controlled by the whole people
and the intention wis that those who
served the people as public officers were TO
net for the whole people,
Even while the Declaration OF indie
pendence was being read, the struggle for
lberly-for free speech, for n free people,
aud Il free country--was going on, aud il
continued until liberty throughout the
length and breadth of the United Colonies
was an established fact.
For years the citizens Of the Republic
were accustomed to meet on each succeed
ing Fourth OF July and celebrate the event
which proclaimed nation born. For
years the doings OF those who erected the
proud structure on which our government
rests were told and retold in song and
story.
Each Fourth of July saw the citizens of
the Republic gathered together under one
and only one-llag on the village green
or the city square, and amid the booming
OF cannon and beating of drums awakened
memories oi "the days that tried mems
souls"
The speaker OF the day told how the
power OF king gave way at the command
of the people. Or If no speaker could be
had one Of the celebrants read to the as
sembled multitude the Declaration Of In
dependence.
Old men among us can recall such Incl
dents MS these, but they are fast forgetting
how 1t was done or for what it WAS done,
and the young people are not taught to
respect or celebrate the day.
Such condition of affairs is wrong and
unpatriotic,
There is one portion of our country's
population that should never cecse to re-
mem ber that they, above all others, should
celebrate the fourth day of July and keep
alive the memories which il recalls,
Those who gain large fortunes, these who
acquire large tracts of lands in the coun-
try, and who own blocks of buildings In
our cities, are not the ones who celebrate
or care to celebrate, that day which gave
to the world nation whose strength lay
E in her common people. 1t belongs, there
fore, 10 the ones who have not gained the
most and Jared the best under our govern
+. ment, to the common people, TO klndle
8 once more and keep forever alive the mem
ories of the struggle which detIroned the
I king inroyal robes and enlhroned the SOW
Y ereign in homespun-which discarded and
1 spat upon the scepter OF a monarch and
e honored and exalted the hammer and
e plow-handle OF the man of toll.
! Two classes, representing diverse feel
4 ings and interests, would have the COM
= mon people forget that we have country
, or flag. The monopolist and the an.
4 archist care nothing for American liberty
I or institutions. The former, having ac-
4 cumulated an immense fortune, would
I hail with delight king and strong gov.
e ernment. The latter has either lost hope
/. in our institutions or else knows nothing
d about them or their history, and would
n destroy both the good and the bad il
4 them to make way for the rule Of nobody
I and nothing
r Monopoly and anarchy are twin evils
e The latter, by attempting to overturn all
law and order because some Of our laws
are not properly administered, would give
h to the former the pretext for the eslab
e lishment oil strong government. Mon
# archy before anarchy would then be the
is cry. The watchword OF the people SHOULD
IL be, neither monopoly nor anarcy shall
g. rule in this country-bolh must go. Mer
n who labor by hand or brain make up Two
e thirds OF our voting population. Two
a thirds OF the voters can, ii they are hon
est, patriotic and vigllant, vote good mel
= into office, and good men, ii properly as
= sisted by the people, Will make and enforc,
1t good laws. 1t follows that, il there is any
thing wrong In the affairs OF slate or ma.
e ton, we, the people, are 10 blame, an,
N we have no right to grumble or threatel
n to break up the government because o
d our neglect. What, then, is our duty
r What is the duty of the Knights of Labo
IS in particular? 1t is to study the princi.
" pies ON which our government is based an,
# teach others what we have learned.
o / recommend therefore that on mex
,r Fourth OF July the members OF the Order
,r where there is an Assembly In existence
=, hold demonstrations and celebrations i
1t honor OF the birth OF peoples govern
= ment.
y If other societies intend 10 celebrate, th
10 Knights can JOIN in; if no other societ
G will celebrate, then the Knights shoul,
ID celebrate by all means. In localities wher
le a public demonstration would cause SOM
y Iiberly-hating employer 10 discharge hi
workmen, would advise that no risks be
'e taken. Join in with other citizens in get
'" ting up celebrations. Secure speaker Il
le deliver short address. If no speake
!, =, can be had, select good reader to rea,
" the Declaration of American Independ
> ence. In the line OF march and on YOU
!, !" stands and public places use only one Gag
~ ~ the Stars and Stripes. Show to the worlt
" y, that no matter where the Knight OF Labo
n citizen was born, he respects and honor
u the United States flag. Show TO the worl,
p" shat we are determined to find out wha
is wrong in our system of government
~ and that we are equally as determined I,
= right such wrongs as may exist by peace,
. iul, legitimate means.
10 THE GREAT ISSUE.
% desire, also, that the queSllon of TN
1t restoration of The peoples lands to tn
10 care Of the people be discussed. Pass res.
: | nlnIinna DECLARING that the holding n